NCHC

National Coalition On Health Care

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Eliminate Surprise Medical Billing

NCHC supports reducing the patient financial burden of an expensive health care system. As such, the Coalition supports eliminating the practice of surprise medical billing. Surprise medical billing arises when a patient is held liable for health services that have been left unpaid. Additionally, surprise medical billing is most closely associated with ancillary and emergency services provided by out-of-network physicians. Currently, Congress has focused on removing the patient from payment disputes between providers and insurers. Although the Coalition does not currently support one specific bill for surprise billing, the Coalition continues to monitor legislation.

NCHC supports bipartisan solutions to eliminate surprise billing, including

    • Protecting patients from surprise billing in situations where it is unreasonable to expect them to know which providers are in-network
    • Encouraging network simplicity for both patients and providers

Recent publications from NCHC on this topic:

Surprise Medical Billing Primer

June 5, 2020, NCHC Staff

Surprise medical billing contributes to unpredictable, high out-of-pocket costs for consumers. Patients often encounter surprise medical bills when receiving emergency or ancillary health services from out-of-network practitioners. Recent studies indicate that surprise billing is concentrated in specific specialties like pathology.1 These providers “balance bill” patients for the difference between the full charge for services and the amount paid by the insurer, or bill for the entire amount of undiscounted charges. Payers, providers, facilities, and health consumers are all stakeholders to consider in legislation to address surprise medical bills. In protecting consumers, policymakers should not fuel health care inflation, but rather, promote reasonable solutions that appease payers, providers, and patients. See the Coalition’s full primer here.


National Coalition Expresses Disappointment in 2019 Year-End Package, “Surprise Billing” and Drug Prices Missing

December 20, 2019, NCHC Staff

The National Coalition on Health Care expresses significant disappointment that Congress did not act in 2019 to protect Americans from surprise medical bills or from high prescription drug prices.

Although we applaud the inclusion of CREATES Act in the final year-end spending package, which will help provide a boost to the generic drugs market, the end of the year package lacks any significant changes to drug policy that would protect Americans from the most expensive drugs. Americans have consistently indicated that high and increasing drug prices are the top concern, across both Democrats and Republicans.

The full press release can be found here.


NCHC 2019 State Legislative Summary

August 2, 2019, NCHC Staff

Governors and state legislatures have been taking action in 2019 to lower health care costs and promote affordable coverage options for their residents. We reviewed 2019 state legislation and executive actions, and highlight some of the boldest approaches to lower drug, provider, and health insurance costs.

Please click here to read the report in its entirety.


NCHC Writes Letter to Senator Hassan on Surprise Bills

January 2, 2019, NCHC Staff

On December 21, 2018, NCHC wrote a letter to legislators that supported S. 3592, the No More Surprise Bills Act of 2018. The effects of surprise medical bills effect thousands of people on a daily basis and the problems associated with these bills are growing, creating negative financial consequences for patients and the entire health care system.

You can read the entire letter here.

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Mission

To bring together key stakeholders in order to achieve an affordable, high-value health care system for patients and consumers, for employers and other payers, and for taxpayers.

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NCHC Recent Policy Correspondence

  • The Budget Reconciliation Process and NCHC Priorities in 2021
  • NCHC STATEMENT ON BICAMERAL AND BIPARTISAN SURPRISE BILLING LEGISLATION, “NO SURPRISES ACT,”
  • NCHC STATEMENT ON PART D REBATE SAFE HARBOR REPEAL AND “MOST FAVORED NATION” DEMONSTRATION
  • NCHC Statement On The Trump Administration’s “Most-Favored-Nation” Drug Pricing Executive Order
  • NCHC Statement on the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders
...More Policy Correspondence

National Coalition on Health Care

About Us

The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) was formed more than two decades ago to help achieve comprehensive health system change. We aim to be a leader in promoting a healthy population and a more effective, efficient and responsive health system that provides quality care for all. NCHC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of organizations. Our growing Coalition represents more than 80 participating organizations, including medical societies, businesses, unions, health care providers, faith-based associations, pension and health funds, insurers, and groups representing consumers, patients, women, minorities and persons with disabilities. … Read More...

Interim CEO

Shawn Martin

CHAIRMAN

Jack Lewin
Principal and Founder
Lewin and Associates, LLC

MISSION

To bring together key stakeholders in order to achieve an affordable, high-value health care system for patients and consumers, for employers and other payers, and for taxpayers.

CONTACT US

900 16th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
contactus@nchc.org

Connect With NCHC

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Recent News & Posts

  • All Payer Claims Databases and Health Care Affordability
  • National Coalition on Health Care and West Health, The Burden of High Drug Prices on Communities of Color
  • NCHC ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF PRESIDENT JOHN ROTHER
  • NCHC & West Health Hill Briefing: The Burden of High Drug Prices Among Communities of Color
  • Reference Pricing: A Bipartisan Solution to High Hospital Prices?

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